Resolutions are a tribute to human optimism. More often than not, they're abandoned within a week or two. Still, it's worth making the effort, because you'll benefit twice over. By looking back, you recognise mistakes you have made and learn from them. By planning ahead, you set priorities and put some order into the coming months. And if you manage to achieve your goals, you gain a delicious sense of pride.

Summer resolutions stand a better chance of being fulfilled than New Year ones. Christmas and New Year can be a ghastly time for many. There's enormous pressure at work. There are the kids' plays and end-of-term concerts, as well as various other celebrations to fit in. You'll probably be feeling particularly anxious about your finances. You may be fighting off colds and flu. And what lies ahead to motivate you? Dark, cold days.

Contrast this with September. The pressure to finish projects at work isn't quite so intense. The weather is better, so your immune system is boosted and endorphins are more freely available.

The only drawback with September resolutions is that you generally make them out of context – when you're away in a place where you don't have to clean up or get out of bed early. As a result, you're likely to overestimate how much time and energy you'll have. Try to bear this in mind. And here are five tips to increase your chances:

▶ Ask yourself what you'll gain from each one, and proceed only if the reason is primarily internal (that is, it's something you want, rather than something you're doing simply to please others).

▶ Break the work you'll need to do into manageable steps, spread over six weeks. It takes that long to establish new habits, so you maximise the chance of maintaining any gains if you work towards them slowly and steadily.

▶ Ensure each step is quantifiable, so you can clearly see progress. For example, "lose a lot of weight" has less chance of success than "lose 2lb a week for six weeks".

▶ Offer yourself a reward for reaching your goal. Set aside the funds for that reward – a new pair of shoes or a night out (or whatever) at the outset.

▶ Find a buddy so you can motivate each other. Check in regularly and be sure to praise your buddy whenever he or she makes progress.